REVIEWS

Professional Reviews

Customer Reviews

Subject: PrimaLuna HP integrated
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 12:29:25 +0000
From: Torske, Kevin R

Good morning Kevin,
 
I received my PrimaLuna DiaLogue HP integrated amp last Thursday and have
been breaking it in. I had thought it would be good, but also thought that a
lot of the superlatives being thrown around would be hype...
 
I am SO glad that hype actually does not do this amp justice! Hooked up with
my Sonus faber Guarneri Memento speakers, I have never heard more unforced
detail, all while keeping the overall sound warm, rich and inviting. As I
only have about 100 hours on the unit, I am looking forward to further
break-in and improvements, even if they are subtle. This is one VERY
impressive amp.
 
I have also sent my ModWright KWI200 to you via UPS Ground. I will get you
the tracking number ASAP. I believe it should be there by the 6th. I hope it
will arrive in good condition.
 
Thanks for all the help.
 
Respectfully,
Kevin R. Torske

From: Sean Campbell
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2016 1:30 PM
To: Kevin Deal
Subject: Registration - HP Integrated

A summary of my experience with the HP since last Saturday.

I spent Saturday connecting up the HP into my system and disconnecting my solid state amp (a very nice/expensive McIntosh solid state) 200 watts per channel.
 
After I integrated the HP into my system and assured all connections were accurate and secure, I turned on the power.  As expected, the lights came on and was ready in about ~60 seconds.
I first wanted to run it in Triode mode right out of the gate and what happened over the next couple hours was pretty much astounding.  To be honest, my system as it was, I thought was pretty hard to beat and to improve or change the sound in a delightful way I just didn’t expect too much. My sound room is not ideal, but I’ve worked very hard and did a lot of research on sound control and I have it dialed in pretty damn good. As I mentioned, I already own a legendary McIntosh amp that I paid a lot of money for and to be fair, love dearly both in sound and fit and finish. 

Back to the experience, as soon as the first notes played through the speakers with the HP, I immediately was blown away. I truly didn’t think an amp could make that much of a difference, especially at the level I was already obtaining.  I was so moved by the sound that I actually sat on the couch listening with my wife and got goose bumps. The explanation in a word is “euphoria”. I hadn’t even opened up a good IPA beer yet!  In fact, I’m so in love with the sound, since Saturday, I have only listened to it in Triode mode as I can’t bring myself to change what I have already fallen in love with (I know, stupid that I haven’t even tried Ultra linear right?) but that’s just me…at least for now.

Again, I’ve only listened to it on Saturday for about 3 hours, and Sunday about 3 hours, total of 6 hours.

Hi Kevin,
 
I tested the Primaluna HP Integrated last night. WOW!!! I never know my HT2-TL speaker can sound this good! even my wife is loving the music coming out of it. Before with the Cronus Magnum she was like meh.
 
I played many songs with different types, rock, hip hop, pop, vocal, acoustic, concerts,opera...etc. I can tell you that the Dialogue HP + the Salk speaker combo is magic! You are right, a good amp should be good on every kind of music! It has everything I am looking for, the punchy bass, the lust and warm mids, and crystal clear but not harsh highs, and the details. I like the triode mode a lot even for bass heavy sound. And I am not sure after 100 hours when it opens up, how much more better it can go, I mean already it is excellent now!
 
Thank you Kevin for your time explaining to me what I need is not more power, but high quality like the HP integrated. I almost went for big solid states with large power and I might regret again. For now, I can completely forget about equipment, and just enjoy music! Of course, I am curious about tube rolling but will wait later. It is good to have something I can play with in the future. :)
 
Best Regards,
Harry Lei

Hey fellas,

I know you guys probably think I'm nuts at this point, which may be true, but this amp, the HP integrated, is just magic.  Like a Xanax that doesn't make you tired.  :)  Just so good.

Listening to Desmond's Easy Living.  And wow...

And yes I've told all of my friends with a penny in their pocket to visit your store.

Hope y'all are well, keep it up,

PK

I installed my PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated this morning, let it warm up for 10 minutes, and played the following:

• Gillian Welch, The Harrow and the Harvest (LP)

• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Ella and Louis (SACD)

• Eric Clapton, Crossroads 2, Live in the Seventies (CD)

I know you don’t like long-winded reviews, so how’s this.  Holy shit!  Goosebumps!  Eyes closing! Toes tapping!

Thanks,
Christopher A. Lause

I recently have had to downsize my stereo after 55 years of audiophile craziness. I spent 35 of those with an all Conrad Johnson front end (Premiere 4/PV5) that I replaced only after the amp caught fire and seemed unfixable. I spent a few years meandering through various tubed and solid state amps and preamps before settling on an Audio Research amp (about$12,000) and Rogue preamp (about $3,000). These drove Focal floorstanders, and I was satisfied that my sound was as good as I would ever need it to be. 

With downsizing looming, I decided that I had to settle for an integrated. After much listening and review reading, I sold my ARC and bought a Primaluna DiaLogue Premium HP from Upscale. After some burn-in, I can happily report that this single box integrated sounds better than anything I have ever listened to! Bass is bigger than from the Audio Research amp and every bit as tight, and the mids are at least as luscious. High frequencies are perfect, accurate but not edgy. The Primaluna soundstage is wider and more accurate. And I turned a profit after selling my 12-year old amp. There is no reason to get separates with this integrated available.

Scott P.

Kevin,

A while ago you helped me with a problem on a used tube amp that I recently purchased from Upscale Audio. You were as disappointed as I was when the amp presented with a problem in the biasing circuitry. Upscale was there for the whole return/repair process and you, in particular, worked it out with me to exchange for a brand new PrimaLuna Dialogue HP Premium. First of all, this was exceptional treatment because of the clear Upscale Audio policy on used equipment. The second part of this, is the performance of the PL HP amp; it is simply AWESOME! I have been on the audio equipment merry go round for far too long; the PL HP just ended that ride, and in the nick of time. I was seriously getting burned out by the lure of better x,y,z components, only to realize that long term results were unfulfilling and annoying; totally against the grain of my goal... to just hit play and relax into the music. I was about to hand in the towel, sell all the stuff I have collected, and settle with a headphone setup. This PL HP amp is a component of wonder. It seems the entire system sings as a musical instrument itself; I believe the word i'm looking for here is 'coherence'; there is just a rightness to the presentation that is inherently musical. I have reached my own 'absolute sound' thanks to YOU and the PrimaLuna Dialogue HP Premium.

Turbo Kudos to the entire PrimaLuna design, supply chain, purchasing, manufacturing, and quality assurance, and logistics team. You have won another uber happy customer.

Warm and Totally Tubular Regards,

Dave P.